Unlike previous negotiations and various proposals from the international community, Serbia is facing a proposal that, in addition to the countries that have already recognized Kosovo's independence, is supported by all other EU countries, as well as the US.
When the diplomats of the most influential countries put so much effort in order to have a common and joint position, it is expected that they act with much greater credibility and determination towards the negotiating parties to solve the problem. This is mostly reflected in the fact that it was explicitly stated that if a party rejects the plan, it will suffer the consequences. We all know that Serbia is completely economically dependent on the European Union, and the perspective of our economy is bleak if there is any disruption in those relations. We are witnessing that some unscrupulous analysts and irresponsible politicians are trying to present to our public potential consequences such as prevention of travel or shopping tours. However, this is a trivialization of everything that could happen to the citizens, which would end in a complete devastation of the standard of living of every citizen of Serbia.
Although some officials of the EU countries deny that Serbia was blackmailed, no one denied that we will face consequences, which this time would be tragic. Stopping the European path would mean the interruption of the flow of money that Serbia receives from the EU through donations, and on the other hand, the possibility of reintroduction of visa regime is being mentioned more and more often, which would have negative consequences for both economic activities and foreign investments, which are the engine of the Serbian economy. In international politics, many relationships are simple; if we make the decision to self-isolate, it will certainly affect us in the worst possible way.
The agreed position of the international community, better known to the public as the Franco-German proposal, represents a solution that is not ideal for either Belgrade or Pristina. In the context of the current largest war in Europe since 1945 and Russian war propaganda whose media announce the continuation of the conflict in the Western Balkan region, the growing lack of tolerance of the West, which is no longer bluffing, is understandable. Although the entire country faces a difficult task, the only correct solution is to continue the dialogue and accept an agreement that saves both the citizens and the country from the abyss we are facing.
Regardless of the high level of mistrust between Belgrade and Pristina, Serbia must opt for the perspective of regional peace and stability, and not for the continuation of a series of incidents caused by Aljbin Kurtin's unilateral and irresponsible moves. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pristina has continuously destroyed the minimum trust that it should create, at least with the Serbs living in Kosovo, thereby raising tensions to the extent that they were only recently on the verge of an armed conflict. Although Kurti's rhetoric and his regime's lobbying are directed towards the West in order to prove democratic legitimacy, decisions that create intolerance and animosity towards the Serbian population are practiced everyday. And that's no coincidence; it is part of the plan according to which Serbia should be a factor of instability that the entire Western world would condemn, and thus give even greater support to the authorities in Pristina.
Legitimacy of the Brussels Agreement
Luckily for us, Western diplomats are now aware of this, as they find less and less a reliable interlocutor in Kurti. Even Kurti's unpredictable behavior would not be an obstacle to talks and possible agreements if he would respect at least what was signed ten years ago and whose guarantor is the EU. However, Kurti believes that it is politically more profitable for him to maintain tensions and direct the public's attention to virtual Serbian hegemony and Russian imperialism than to solve the accumulated problems of Kosovo society. The difference between Belgrade's and Pristina's approaches to the normalization process can be seen through the legitimacy of the Brussels Agreement, which the Serbian side signed and consistently implements, regardless of the odium of right-wing politicians and conservative confessional circles. In contrast to the consistency of Belgrade, Kurti abuses the internationally signed agreement and applies it only when he finds appropriate. Referring to the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo and emphasizing the impossibility of forming the Association of Serbian Municipalities (ASM) due to ethnic criteria, he renders the negotiation process meaningless and discredits all mediators who are also guarantors of the signed agreements.
Regardless of the fact that it is clear even to legal laymen that internationally signed political agreements have a hierarchically greater legitimacy than the legal decisions of the Constitutional Courts, Kurti refuses to act on the Constitutional Court's decision when it does not suit him, as in the case of the registration of 24 hectares of land which belongs to Visoki Dečani monastery. On the other hand, messages are coming from Pristina that they would enable the formation of the ASM, but only after a final agreement by which Serbia would recognize Kosovo. The question arises, if Kurti is serious and so committed to respecting his Constitution, how come that he violates the Constitution following the agreement, and now he can't!? Therefore, it is only a matter of manipulation and time-buying, which is important to him if one takes into account that his credibility in the international community has collapsed, and which it would be ideal for him to restore with some new incident for which he would accuse Serbia.
I would like to remind, in the case of the Brussels Agreement, Kurti insists on consistent compliance with the decision of the Constitutional Court, even though the agreement itself was ratified by the Assembly of Kosovo in 2013. In addition, the National Program for the Implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement from 2020 to 2024, which was adopted by the Kosovo government, and ratified by the said Assembly in 2015, the implementation of all obligations resulting from the Brussels Agreement, including the one on the formation of the ASM, is provided. By creating a continuum of crises, Kurti avoids international obligations and keeps his promise to his voters about the unacceptability of the constitution of the ASM. It is encouraging that all the information indicates that we are moving in the direction of a gradual solution to the problem, because even the mediators have left the diplomatic rhetoric and insist on fulfilling all the obligations from the Brussels Agreement. After that, the path to further normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina could be open.
During that time in Serbia, the political objections to this agreement were obviously reduced to a personal relationship with President Vučić, through which certain political outsiders see their chance. It is obvious that many people do not understand that the status of Vucic or the relationship of the EU and the USA towards him is not being negotiated, but the perspective of every citizen of Serbia and whether we will be isolated and marginalized from the rest of modern Europe is. Political parties and movements that are declaratively in favor of the EU have a disastrous strategy, and now they are the loudest in criticizing the agreement, by gambling it on national interest argument, because they see room for growth in the electorate. Anyone who carefully listened to the speakers at the assembly session could notice at least two things, namely a complete deficit of political ideas and absolute irresponsibility towards the future of both citizens and the state.
Destructivism
MPs, like bad history professors, competed in the knowledge of the past, while almost no one was devoted to the present or the future. The leader of an opposition, populist and destructive group, told us regarding the agreement, that it is not of importance what the solution is, but rather, what the solution is not. In the past, leaders were politicians who offered solutions, today every citizen knows what the problems are and what is not a solution to the problems. A leadership crisis is definitely felt, and it is clearly not a problem only felt in Serbia.
Unfortunately, Serbia lacks right-wing parties dedicated to the vital interests of Serbia, and I am afraid, lacks also radical left-wing parties, because they all behave like outposts of the darkest political catacombs of Moscow, and none of them understand the true meaning of patriotism. Since the beginning of the Russian aggression, you could rarely hear any politician from the opposition criticizing the brutality of the Russian army and defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Such order recipients can be expected to try to destabilize Serbia through demonstrations, stop the further path to the EU and, if possible, turn us towards the collapsed Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), from which permanent members are fleeing. However, every responsible politician must first of all keep in mind that this is an agreement for the future, and that we have considered various solutions in the past and, we are where we are because we did not understand the currents of global geostrategic politics.
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